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Virtual Neuroprosthesis: Restoring a Sense of Touch to Amputees

NCT03581448 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 21

Last updated 2023-09-18

Study results available
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Summary

The overall goal of this project is to develop a virtual neuroprosthesis in which a facsimile of a neural implant is externalized and housed in a well-controlled microfluidic chamber, thereby abating the intrinsic limitations of highly invasive studies with neural implants. Able-bodied and upper limb amputee subjects will be recruited to control a dexterous artificial hand and arm with electromyogram signals while electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are simultaneously measured. Robotic grip force measurements will be biomimetically converted into electrical pulses similar to those found in the peripheral nervous system to catalyze in vitro nerve regeneration after neurotrauma. The synergistic contributions of this multidisciplinary project will lead to a transformative understanding of the symbiotic interaction of neural plasticity within human-robotic systems. Currently, there is no systematic understanding of how tactile feedback signals can contribute to the neural regeneration of afferent neural pathways to restore somatosensation and improve motor function in amputees fitted with neuroprosthetic limbs. Tackling this problem will be a significant breakthrough for the important field of neuroprosthetics.

Conditions

  • Amputation

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Sensory Restoration During Prosthesis Control

Human subjects who use a robotic arm/hand interface will experience variable sensations of touch over time.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Utah

    collaborator OTHER

  • National Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB)

    collaborator NIH

  • Florida Atlantic University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Erik Engeberg, Ph.D. · Florida Atlantic University

Study Design

Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Model
SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2017-10-15
Primary Completion
2021-10-26
Completion
2021-10-26

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Companies

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT03581448 on ClinicalTrials.gov